Slap on the wrist

Meaning

A mild punishment.

Usage

Used when consequences are too lenient.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Literal light strike as a rebuke.

Used in moralist literature around the 1800s.